Page 117 of A Duchess to Fight For
Chapter 31
Louisa looked much better when she appeared in the parlour. She looked around. “Am I to find a maid?”
Percy moved toward her and took both of her hands in his. “No, your father knows I am here with you alone, and he has no objection.”
“Really? Why not?”
Percy got on one knee and fished out the ring he had spent so much time designing.
“Louisa, I love you, and I want us to spend every day together for the rest of our lives. Please, please make me the luckiest man on earth and say you will marry me.”
Louisa tugged on his hands so he would stand. He held out the ring to her, an expectant look in his eyes.
Her eyes filled with tears. Percy’s smile faltered. He thought for sure she would say yes this time. Bloody hell.
“Yes, Percy. I love you.” Louisa threw her arms around Percy’s neck. He hugged her to him and closed his eyes. She felt so good, so perfect in his arms.
Louisa backed up. “I’m ready,” she beamed.
“Ready?” Percy asked.
“For the ring.” She put out her left hand, palm down, so he could slip on the ring.
The ring wasn’t in Percy’s hand. “I must have dropped it in the excitement.
“Sit down, I’ll find it.”
Louisa giggled while Percy searched on all fours for the ring. Did the carpet have to be a green oriental? He would never find it by eyesight; he had to run his hands over the rug until he felt it.
“Louisa, look in the seat cushions, would you?”
Louisa stood up and began to take the settee apart, throwing every cushion on the floor.
“I didn’t imagine it, Percy. There was a ring.”
“Yes, and it isn’t so tiny that we wouldn’t find it.”
“Look in your pockets again. You sometimes put things away without even knowing you did it.”
Percy groaned and sat down on his heels, ring in his palm.
“This is the beginning of you being right every day for the rest of my life. Here, put it on. We will go to the jewellers tomorrow if it needs to be sized.”
Louisa put the ring on and looked down at it on her finger. She looked up at Percy with a heart-stopping smile.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and then she pulled him up by the hands and placed him on the settee with no pillows, and hugged him. She kissed his lips gently.
“I wanted to do that since I was fifteen years old.”
Louisa grinned. “Do you want to do it again?”
She leaned over and kissed him again.
She was so beautiful. He could tell she was still tired from being ill, and she still looked pale, but even so, Louisa was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Her smile made him happy. He could tell it was genuine, and it told of the love she had in her heart for him.
“Shall we celebrate with champagne?” She nodded. He rose and called for Mendon.
